US7305381B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Asynchronous unconscious retrieval in a network of information appliances
Assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
•
Filing: 2001-10-29
•
Granted: 2007-12-04
•
Expires: 2021-10-29
Abstract
Abstract A method, system, and computer program product for asynchronous unconscious retrieval retrieves and presents information to end users without requiring the end users to explicitly request the information. The invention automatically and asynchronously formulates queries and presents relevant information to end users within the context of existing applications, so as to minimize the effort, overhead, and context shifts associated with conventional conscious retrieval.
Inventors
- 👤 Derek E Poppink
- 👤 Jonathan J Hull
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 01:25
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/02; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/10; G06Q10/107; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99933
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 103
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
A computer-implemented method for unconscious data retrieval, comprising: extracting at least one query key from a primary document; responsive to a connection with at least one data source being available, pre-fetching at least one query result by: querying the at least one data source with the at least one query key; and receiving at least one query result from at least one data source; evaluating the received at least one query result; accessing the primary document; and displaying at least one received query result; wherein extracting, querying, receiving, and evaluating are performed automated asynchronously with respect to user interaction with the primary document; and wherein displaying the at least one received query result is performed without regard to whether a connection with a data source is available and in response to accessing the primary document.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
135 words
A computer-implemented method for unconscious data retrieval, comprising: extracting at least one query key from a primary document; responsive to a connection with at least one data source being available, pre-fetching at least one query result by: querying the at least one data source with the at least one query key; and receiving at least one query result from at least one data source; evaluating the received at least one query result; accessing the primary document; and displaying at least one received query result; wherein extracting, querying, receiving, and evaluating are performed automated asynchronously with respect to user interaction with the primary document; and wherein displaying the at least one received query result is performed without regard to whether a connection with a data source is available and in response to accessing the primary document.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising, prior to extracting: receiving the primary document; and wherein extracting, querying, receiving, and evaluating are performed in response to receiving the primary document.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising, prior to displaying at least one received query result: displaying the primary document; and wherein displaying at least one received query result is performed in response to displaying the primary document.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the primary document comprises an electronic communication.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein the primary document comprises an e-mail message.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 4 , further comprising, prior to extracting: receiving the electronic communication; and wherein extracting, querying, receiving, and evaluating are performed in response to receiving the electronic communication.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein receiving the electronic communication comprises receiving the electronic communication at an e-mail server.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein receiving the electronic communication comprises receiving the electronic communication at a user's computer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein receiving the electronic communication comprises retrieving the electronic communication from an e-mail server to a user's computer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising: storing the evaluated at least one query result; and wherein displaying at least one received query result comprises: retrieving the stored at least one query result; and displaying the retrieved at least one query result.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein querying at least one data source comprises: transmitting a query over a network.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein querying at least one data source comprises transmitting an e-mail message containing a query to the at least one data source.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein querying at least one data source comprises transmitting across a firewall an e-mail message containing a query to the at least one data source.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein querying at least one data source comprises transmitting an XML-encoded e-mail message containing a query to the at least one data source.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving at least one query result from at least one data source comprises receiving an e-mail message containing at least one query result from at least one data source.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving at least one query result from at least one data source comprises receiving an XML-encoded e-mail message containing at least one query result from at least one data source.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one data source comprises: at least one information appliance.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein at least one of the information appliances comprises one selected from the group consisting of: a visitor kiosk; a meeting recorder; a presentation recorder; a whiteboard capture device; a communication device; and a document management device.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
29 words
The method of claim, 1 , wherein evaluating the received at least one query result comprises estimating the relevance of the query result with respect to the electronic communication.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein evaluating the received at least one query result comprises determining whether the query result has previously been displayed.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein evaluating the received at least one query result comprises determining whether the query result is sufficiently relevant with respect to a predetermined relevancy threshold; and wherein displaying at least one received query result comprises displaying a query result responsive to the determination indicating that the query result is sufficiently relevant.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying at least one received query result comprises determining displaying at least one received query result in a sequence prioritized according to estimated relevance.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying at least one received query result comprises displaying the query result in the context of a currently active software application.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying at least one received query result comprises displaying the query result in a sidebar pane adjacent to a currently active on-screen window.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying at least one received query result comprises displaying the query result in an on-screen window concurrently with display of a currently active on-screen window.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying at least one received query result comprises displaying the query result in an on-screen dialog box.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the displayed query result comprises a hyperlink to a resource containing data related to the displayed query result.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one received query result comprises a plurality of query results, the method further comprising: prioritizing the query results according to estimated relevance; and wherein displaying at least one received query result comprises displaying a plurality of query results in order of priority.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 28 , wherein prioritizing the query results is performed responsive to the context of the query results.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 28 , wherein prioritizing the query results is performed responsive to the context of the query key in the primary document.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the data sources comprises a network-connected computer containing shared information.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the data sources comprises a shared directory.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the data sources is intermittently connected via a network.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the primary document is one selected from the group consisting of: an electronic communication; a word processing document; a spreadsheet document; a task item; a calendar item; a file; an image; a sound recording; a video recording; and a contact record.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein querying at least one data source comprises: formulating a structured query based on the extracted at least one query key; and transmitting the structured query to the at least one data source.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein extracting at least one query key comprises applying a part-of-speech analysis to the primary document.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising: selecting at least one data source based on the extracted at least one query key; and wherein querying at least one data source comprises querying the selected at least one data source.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein evaluating the received at least one query result comprises applying a Bayesian belief net to determine estimated relevance of the at least one query result.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying at least one received query result comprises displaying the result on a device that is intermittently connected via a network.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 39 , wherein the device comprises a portable computing device.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the primary document comprises a text document.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the primary document comprises a non-text document.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein querying at least one data source comprises transmitting a text query.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein querying at least one data source comprises transmitting a non-text query.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying at least one received query result comprises displaying the query result in a calendar display.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying at least one received query result comprises: designating at least a portion of the primary document as a hyperlink; and responsive to user activation of the hyperlink, displaying a query result.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying at least one received query result comprises: displaying an on-screen button; and responsive to user activation of the button, displaying a query result.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying at least one received query result comprises: displaying a toolbar menu activation button; and responsive to user activation of the button, displaying a query result.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying at least one received query result comprises: displaying a menu comprising at least one command; and responsive to user selection of one of the at least one command, displaying a query result.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying at least one received query result comprises: displaying a menu activation icon; responsive to user activation of the menu activation icon, displaying a menu comprising at least one command; and responsive to user selection of one of the at least one command, displaying a query result.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
133 words
A computer-implemented system for unconscious data retrieval, comprising: a receiver, for receiving a primary document; a requester, coupled to the receiver, for, responsive to a connection with at least one data source being available, pre-fetching at least one query result by generating and transmitting to at least one data source at least one query related to the primary document; an evaluator, for receiving at least one query result from the at least one data source and for evaluating the received at least one query result; and a display, coupled to the evaluator, for displaying the at least one received query result without regard to whether a connection with a data source is available; wherein the receiver, the requester, and the evaluator operate automated asynchronously with respect to user interaction with the primary document.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
133 words
A computer-implemented system for unconscious data retrieval, comprising: a receiver, for receiving a primary document; a requester, coupled to the receiver, for, responsive to a connection with at least one data source being available, pre-fetching at least one query result by generating and transmitting to at least one data source at least one query related to the primary document; an evaluator, for receiving at least one query result from the at least one data source and for evaluating the received at least one query result; and a display, coupled to the evaluator, for displaying the at least one received query result without regard to whether a connection with a data source is available; wherein the receiver, the requester, and the evaluator operate automated asynchronously with respect to user interaction with the primary document.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 51 , wherein the primary document comprises an electronic communication.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 52 , wherein the primary document comprises an e-mail message.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 53 , wherein the receiver comprises an e-mail server.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 53 , wherein the receiver comprises an e-mail program running on a user's computer.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 51 , further comprising: a storage device, coupled to the evaluator, for storing the evaluated at least one query result; and wherein the display displays at least one received query result retrieved from the storage device.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 51 , wherein the requester transmits the query over a network.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 57 , wherein the requester transmits an e-mail message containing the query to the at least one data source.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 57 , wherein the requester transmits across a firewall an e-mail message containing the query to the at least one data source.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 57 , wherein the evaluator receives an e-mail message containing at least one query result from at least one data source.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 51 , wherein the evaluator estimates the relevance of the query result with respect to the primary document.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 51 , wherein the evaluator determines whether the query result is sufficiently relevant with respect to a predetermined relevancy threshold; and wherein the display displays a query result responsive to the determination indicating that the query result is sufficiently relevant.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 51 , wherein the display displays at least one received query result in a sequence prioritized according to estimated relevance.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 51 , wherein the display displays the query result in the context of a currently active software application.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 51 , wherein the display comprises a sidebar pane adjacent to a currently active on-screen window.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 51 , wherein the display comprises an on-screen window shown concurrently with a currently active on-screen window.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 51 , wherein the display comprises an on-screen dialog box.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 51 , wherein at least a portion of the displayed query result comprises a hyperlink to a resource containing data related to the displayed query result.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 51 , wherein at least one of the data sources comprises a network-connected computer containing shared information.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 51 , wherein at least one of the data sources comprises a shared directory.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 51 , wherein at least one of the data sources is intermittently connected via a network.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system of claim 51 , wherein the primary document is one selected from the group consisting of: an electronic communication; a word processing document; a spreadsheet document; a task item; a calendar item; a file; an image; a sound recording; a video recording; and a contact record.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system of claim 51 , wherein the requester comprises: a query formulator, for formulating a structured query based on the extracted at least one query key; and a transmitter, coupled to the query formulator, for transmitting the structured query to the at least one data source.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 51 , wherein the evaluator applies a Bayesian belief net to determine estimated relevance of the at least one query result.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 51 , wherein the display comprises a portable computing device.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 51 , wherein the primary document comprises a text document.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 51 , wherein the primary document comprises a non-text document.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 51 , wherein the display comprises a calendar display.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 51 , wherein the display comprises a user-activated toolbar menu.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
207 words
A computer program product comprising a computer-usable medium having computer-readable code embodied therein for unconscious data retrieval, comprising: computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to extract at least one query key from a primary document; computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to, responsive to a connection with at least one data source being available, pre-fetching at least one query result by: querying at least one data source with the at least one query key; and receiving at least one query result from at least one data source; computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to evaluate the received at least one query result; computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to access the primary document; and computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to display at least one received query result; wherein the computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to extract, query, receive, and evaluate operate automated asynchronously with respect to user interaction with the primary document; and wherein the computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to display the at least one received query result operates without regard to whether a connection with a data source is available and in response to accessing the primary document.
Claim 83
Dependent Claim
207 words
A computer program product comprising a computer-usable medium having computer-readable code embodied therein for unconscious data retrieval, comprising: computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to extract at least one query key from a primary document; computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to, responsive to a connection with at least one data source being available, pre-fetching at least one query result by: querying at least one data source with the at least one query key; and receiving at least one query result from at least one data source; computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to evaluate the received at least one query result; computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to access the primary document; and computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to display at least one received query result; wherein the computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to extract, query, receive, and evaluate operate automated asynchronously with respect to user interaction with the primary document; and wherein the computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to display the at least one received query result operates without regard to whether a connection with a data source is available and in response to accessing the primary document.
Claim 84
Dependent Claim
35 words
The computer program product of claim 80 , wherein the computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to extract, query, receive, and evaluate operate asynchronously with respect to user interaction with the primary document.
Claim 85
Dependent Claim
82 words
The computer program product of claim 80 , further comprising: computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to store the evaluated at least one query result; and wherein the computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to display at least one received query result comprises: computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to retrieve the stored at least one query result; and computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to display the retrieved at least one query result.
Claim 86
Dependent Claim
50 words
The computer program product of claim 80 , wherein the computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to evaluate the received at least one query result comprises computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to estimate the relevance of the query result with respect to the primary document.
Claim 87
Dependent Claim
97 words
The computer program product of claim 80 , wherein the computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to evaluate the received at least one query result comprises computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to determine whether the query result is sufficiently relevant with respect to a predetermined relevancy threshold; and wherein the computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to display at least one received query result comprises computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to display a query result responsive to the determination indicating that the query result is sufficiently relevant.
Claim 88
Dependent Claim
49 words
The computer program product of claim 80 , wherein the computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to display at least one received query result comprises computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to display the query result in the context of a currently active software application.
Claim 89
Dependent Claim
51 words
The computer program product of claim 80 , wherein the computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to display at least one received query result comprises computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to display the query result in a sidebar pane adjacent to a currently active on-screen window.
Claim 90
Dependent Claim
53 words
The computer program product of claim 80 , wherein the computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to display at least one received query result comprises computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to display the query result in an on-screen window concurrently with display of a currently active on-screen window.
Claim 91
Dependent Claim
45 words
The computer program product of claim 80 , wherein the computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to display at least one received query result comprises computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to display the query result in an on-screen dialog box.
Claim 92
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer program product of claim 80 , wherein at least one of the data sources comprises a network-connected computer containing shared information.
Claim 93
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer program product of claim 80 , wherein at least one of the data sources comprises a shared directory.
Claim 94
Dependent Claim
50 words
The computer program product of claim 80 , wherein the primary document is one selected from the group consisting of: an electronic communication; a word processing document; a spreadsheet document; a task item; a calendar item; a file; an image; a sound recording; a video recording; and a contact record.
Claim 95
Dependent Claim
69 words
The computer program product of claim 80 , wherein the computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to query at least one data source comprises: computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to formulate a structured query based on the extracted at least one query key; and computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to transmit the structured query to the at least one data source.
Claim 96
Dependent Claim
43 words
The computer program product of claim 80 , wherein the computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to extract at least one query key comprises computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to apply a part-of-speech analysis to the primary document.
Claim 97
Dependent Claim
53 words
The computer program product of claim 80 , wherein the computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to evaluate the received at least one query result comprises computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to apply a Bayesian belief net to determine estimated relevance of the at least one query result.
Claim 98
Dependent Claim
49 words
The computer program product of claim 80 , wherein the computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to display at least one received query result comprises computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to display the result on a device that is intermittently connected via a network.
Claim 99
Dependent Claim
69 words
The computer program product of claim 80 , wherein the computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to display at least one received query result comprises: computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to designate at least a portion of the primary document as a hyperlink; and computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to, responsive to user activation of the hyperlink, display a query result.
Claim 100
Dependent Claim
61 words
The computer program product of claim 80 , wherein the computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to display at least one received query result comprises: computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to display an on-screen button; and computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to, responsive to user activation of the button, display a query result.
Claim 101
Dependent Claim
63 words
The computer program product of claim 80 , wherein the computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to display at least one received query result comprises: computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to display a toolbar menu activation button; and computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to, responsive to user activation of the button, display a query result.
Claim 102
Dependent Claim
70 words
The computer program product of claim 80 , wherein the computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to display at least one received query result comprises: computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to display a menu comprising at least one command; and computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to, responsive to user selection of one of the at least one command, display a query result.
Claim 103
Dependent Claim
93 words
The computer program product of claim 80 , wherein the computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to display at least one received query result comprises: computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to display a menu activation icon; computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to, responsive to user activation of the menu activation icon, display a menu comprising at least one command; and computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to, responsive to user selection of one of the at least one command, display a query result.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
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| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2014-12-03 | 2015-06-04 | 2015-12-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2018-12-03 | 2019-06-04 | 2019-12-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |